Giants at mercy of minnows in FA Cup third round
By Vic Mills
JAKARTA (JP): After a frenetic program of matches over the Christmas period, the Premier League gives way to the magic of the FA Cup this weekend as the big clubs join the minnows in the third round of the competition.
The two most successful clubs in FA Cup history meet in the prize tie of the round as nine-times winner Manchester United meets eight-times winner Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford Sunday.
"It's a very exciting tie, it will obviously be a great game," said United chairman Martin Edwards.
The nearest the two sides have come to meeting in the final was in 1962 when both reached the semifinals only to be drawn against each other. The North London club, captained by the legendary Danny Blanchflower, won 3-1 at Hillsborough and went on to beat Burnley at Wembley.
Spurs won a third-round replay five years later, after drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford, but lost a sixth-round replay in 1979 as United went on to lose 3-2 to Arsenal in one of the all-time great finals.
The following year Spurs gained another third round draw in Manchester and won 1-0 at White Hart Lane.
Recent Premiership form - Spurs having lost twice at Old Trafford last year, to an Eric Cantona goal in March and then to an Ole Solkskjaer double in September - points to a United victory, FA Cup history, however, is littered with shocks and for that reason alone Spurs have a chance.
The only other all-Premiership tie has Sunderland drawn away at Arsenal. The visitors are still haunted by their last visit to Highbury in September when they lost 2-0 and had Martin Scott and Paul Stewart sent off.
Merseyside giant Liverpool has been installed as Cup favorite at 5-1 and should have little difficulty in disposing of lowly Burnley of the second division at Anfield.
There will nevertheless be some worried Premiership managers over the weekend as several clubs have been drawn away to ambitious teams from lower divisions.
Having knocked out Sheffield Wednesday last season, Charlton Athletic of the first division has been drawn against another of the Premiership big boys in the 6-1 second favorite, Newcastle United.
Tough draw
Of the trip to London, Kevin Keegan said: "It's tough draw because we've got to travel and because all these type of teams are capable of turning over Premiership sides.
"We know that because we got beat at Luton a few years ago. But whatever comes out of the hat you've got to accept. We've got to go down there and be on our game. Hopefully we will be."
Relegation haunted Nottingham Forest has an equally difficult task at home to Ipswich Town of the first division, itself in the top flight two years ago. An FA Cup run would boost confidence at the City Ground, but the visitors will certainly believe they have a chance.
Other mouthwatering clashes include the Midlands derby between Notts County and seven-times winner Aston Villa, and a southern clash that sends Premiership bottom club Southampton into neighboring Berkshire to face Reading of the first division.
Crystal Palace, in the final only six years ago, takes on Cup record scorer Ian Rush and his new club Leeds United at Selhurst Park, while Everton, held at Goodison Park by Stockport and Port Vale last season, will not entertain Swindon Town with the greatest of confidence.
The true magic of the FA Cup, however, belongs to those amateur or non-league sides who have fought their way through countless qualifying rounds that began in August and now have the chance of both fame and fortune with more giant-killing exploits.
Flying the non-league colors in this third round are Stevenage Borough which entertains Birmingham City, Woking which has a money-spinning draw against the team of the moment Coventry City, and Hednesford Town, which has a home tie against another club from division two with a giant-killing pedigree, York City.